<" * ? -* 3*1 ^ 



2 RHOPALGCERA AFRKLE AUSTRALIS. 



from three to six times, before the Larva attains its full 

 growth ; and frequently, after a moult, the insect is so 

 altered in colour and marking as to be scarcely recognised. 

 When at length full grown, the next moult of the Cater- 

 pillar reveals the Pupa. In this condition the insect is so far 

 advanced towards perfection that the position of all the 

 limbs, as developed in the Imago, is more or less distinctly 

 visible. All, however, is soft and immature ; but, during 

 the period of perfect rest and quiescence that now ensues, 

 the various organs require solidity and symmetry, and finally 

 colour, and for the last time the broken skin gives egress to 

 the insect, now fully formed, and in the active enjoyment 

 of all its faculties, In this perfect and matured condition, 

 the following structure is observable in a LEPIDOPTEROUS 

 INSECT. The body consists, as in other insects, of a series 

 of connected rings or annulations. These are divided into 

 three unequal parts, viz. : the Head, consisting of a single 

 segment ; the Thorax, composed of three closely-soldered 

 segments ; the Abdomen, comprising the remaining nine, 

 which are usually more easily distinguished than those com- 

 posing the thorax, and more or less extensible or retractile. 

 These three distinct portions are united very closely by 

 short, slender ligaments. The Head has two large, globose, 

 compound eyes, immoveable, composed of numerous minute 

 hexagonal lenses, and situate one on either side of the head ; 

 and also, in some instances, two ocelli or simple eyes* on the 

 summit ; a pair of jointed horns or antennae springing from 

 the front of the head, between the eyes, very variable in 

 length and structure ; a pair of jointed organs called palpi, 

 springing from the labium or under lip (which is very minute) ; 

 and a long tubular haustellum or proboscis, for extracting 

 the juices of flowers, which is composed of two separate 

 pieces, answering to the maxillce or lower jaws of many 

 other divisions of insects, and, when at rest, is coiled between 

 the palpi. (This organ is occasionally rudimentary or alto- 

 gether absent.) The Thorax, being the seat of the organs 

 of locomotion, is the strongest and most compact portion of 

 the insect. The three segments of which it is composed are 

 named respectively the pro-thorax, meso-thorax, and meta- 

 thorax. The first of these bears the first pair of legs ; -f the 

 second, the second pair of legs and the first pair of wings ; 

 the third, the third pair of legs and the two hind-wings. On 



* Sometimes termed stemmata. 



f The prothorax also bears a pair of small, horny, scale-like organs, 

 clothed with hair, immediately behind the head, which are termed patagia 

 or tippets, and appear to be moveable at the will of the insect. 



